Cinco de Mayo - What Is It, and Why Do People Celebrate It?

Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for "5th of May," and is a Mexican holiday, primarily in one region of Mexico (the state of Puebla). It is not a federal holiday in the country.

What Cinco de Mayo is:
* a celebration of the Mexican forces over the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
* an occasion to celebrate Mexican heritage and pride, in Mexico, the U.S., and other places having populations of Mexicans.
* an occasion that involves music, dancing, and eating.
* like St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo is often a biggest cause of celebration in the U.S. than in its home country.

What Cinco de Mayo is NOT:
* Mexican independence day. Mexico's independence day is Sept. 16th (dieciséis de septiembre), and is the country's most important national holiday.
* a holiday in other Latin American countries. Cinco de Mayo commemorates a Mexican battle, and the holiday is not observed in other Latin American or Spanish-speaking countries.